BY-LAWS 


OF 


t.  John's  Stflftgc,  $l;-0.  3, 


OF 


ANCIENT    YORK    MASONS 


NEWBERN,  N.  C. 


NEWBERJNT: 

PRINTED  AT  TIIE   "  DAILY  PROGRESS  "  OFFICE. 

1860. 


BY-LAWS 


OF 


t  Join's  l^foge,  $0.  3, 


OJ 


ANCIENT   YORK   MASONS. 


NEWBERN,  N.  C. 


KEWBERN 

DAILY 
1860. 


PBINTED  AT  THE  "DAILY  PROGKESS  "  OFFICE. 


S\H\b 
BY-LAWS 

OF 

ST-  JOHN'S  XiOX>Q-:E3,  NO.  3. 


ARTICLE  L 

TIME   OF    MEETING. 

Sec.  1.— The  Lodge  shall  assemble  on  the  2nd  Wednes- 
day in  every  month.  The  hour  of  meeting,  from  the  first  of 
November  to  the  1st  of  April,  shall  be  7  o'clock,  P.  M., 
and  8  o'clock,  P.  M.,  from  the  first  of  April  to  the  first  of 
November. 

Sec.  2.— The  Lodge  shall  be  opened  in  fifteen  minutes 
after  the  stated  hour  of  meeting,  should  a  sufficient  number 
of  members  be  present. 

Sec  3. — It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  officers  and  members 
of  this  Lodge,  to  give  their  punctual  attendance  at  every 
meeting. 


ARTICLE  II. 

ELECTION    OF   OFFICERS. 

Sec  1. — The  Master,  Senior  and  Junior  Wardens,  Secre- 
tary and  Treasurer,  shall  be  chosen  annually  at  the  regular 
Lodge  next  preceding  the  anniversary  of  St.  John  the  Bap- 
tist, by  a  majority  of  written  votes. 

Sec  2. — On  the  same  evening  the  Senior  Deacon  and  Tiler 
shall  be  appointed  by  the  Master,  and  the  Junior  Deacon  by 
the  Senior  Warden. 

Sec  3. — The  officers  elect,  and  those  appointed,  shall  be 
installed  on  the  ensuing  St.  John's  day,  or  as  soon  after  as 
may  be  practicable.  The  installation  of  the  Master  shall  be 
by  a  Past  Master,  and  that  of  all  the  other  officers  by  the 
Master. 

Sec  4. — No  Brother  shall  be  deemed  eligible  as  Master, 
Warden,  or  Treasurer,  unless  he  shall   have   been  twelve 


\  Warden,  or  Treasurer,  unless  he 
^months  a  member  of  this  Lodge. 


H 


BY-LAWS   OF 


Sec.  5. — Each  and  every  officer  of  the  Lodge,  shall  have 
been  raised  to  the  sublime  degree  of  a  Master  Mason. 


AETICLE  HI. 

DUTY    OF   OFFICERS. 

Sec.  1. — The  Master  shall  preside  in  the  Lodge,  and  shall 
be  careful  to  enforce  an  observance  of  these  Bye-Laws,  as 
well  as  the  paramount  laws  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  and  the 
ancient  usages  of  Masonry. 

He  shall  affix  the  seal  of  the  Lodge  to  all  certificates  to  mem- 
bers, and  to  all  contracts  and  conveyances  made  by  the  Lodge. 

He  shall  lecture  on  one  of  the  first  three  degrees  of  Masonry 
in  each  month. 

He  may  in  any  case  of  emergency  convene  the  Lodge  by 
his  written  summons  directed  to  the  Tiler. 

In  the  absence  of  the  regular  officers,  he  shall  appoint  such 
members  as  he  thinks  proper  to  officiate  pro  tern. 

Sec  2. — The  "Wardens  shall  assist  the  Master  in  the  preser- 
vation of  order,  and  in  the  performance  of  all  the  ceremonies 
of  working.  In  the  absence  of  the  Master,  the  Senior  War- 
den shall  preside,  and  in  the  absence  of  the  Senior,  the 
Junior  "Warden  shall  preside. 

The  "Wardens  may  however,  upon  such  occasions,  call 
upon  a  Past  Master  to  officiate,  but  he  shall  always  be  con- 
sidered as  acting  under  the  authority  of  the  particular  War- 
den who  may  have  exalted  him  to  this  honor. 

Sec  3. — The  Treasurer  shall  keep  a  correct  account  of  all 
the  monies  of  the  Lodge,  and  pay  all  orders  drawn  on  him 
by  the  Master,  and  approved  by  the  Lodge. 

He  shall  have  his  books  and  vouchers  ready  for  examina- 
tion on  every  quarterly  night,  or  whenever  specially  called 
on  by  a  resolution  of  the  Lodge. 

Sec  4. — The  Secretary  shall  collect  all  monies  due  the 
Lodge,  pay  them  to  the  Treasurer  and  take  a  receipt  for  the 
same  ;  record  all  proceedings  proper  to  be  written,  and  read 
the  minutes  of  the  preceding  meeting  immediately  after  the 
opening  of  the  Lodge. 


• 
- 


ST. -JOHNS   LODGE. 


It  shall  be  his  duty  also,  to  keep  a  list  of  the  debtors  to 
the  Lodge,  with  the  sums  due  by  each  member  annexed, 
which  he  shall  present  quarterly  for  settlement ;  and  to  set- 
tle with  the  Treasurer  every  quarter  and  take  his  re- 
ceipt. 

Sec.  5. — The  Deacons  shall  assist  the  Master  and  "Wardens 
in  the  execution  of  their  duty ;  shall  welcome  visiting  breth- 
ren, and  perform  such  other  services  for  the  dispatch  of 
business  as  may  be  officially  assigned  them* 

Sec.  6. — The  Tiler  shall  faithfully  tile  the  Lodge,  serve 
summonses,  go  on  messages,  keep  the  Lodge  Room  in  neat 
and  decent  order,  and  make  the  necessary  preparation  on 
every  evening  of  meeting  for  the  reception  of  the  Lodge. 
For  his  services  he  shall  be  exempted  from  quarterages  and 
receive  one  dollar  from  the  funds  of  the  Lodge  for  each  night 
he  attends. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

INITIATIONS   AND   ADMISSIONS. 

Sec  1. — No  person  shall  be  initiated  into  the  mysteries 
of  Masonry  in  this  Lodge,  or  if  a  Mason,  be  admitted  a 
member,  unless  he  be  well  known  by  one  or  more  of  the 
brethren  to  be  a  man  of  integrity  and  respectability. 

Sec  2. — The  application  of  a  candidate  shall  be  made  in 
writing,  which  shall  always  be  presented  by  a  member,  who, 
on  the  night  of  its  presentation,  shall  deposit  with  the  Secre- 
tary the  sum  of  Five  Dollars. 

An  application  shall  not  be  received  on  any  other  than  a 
regular  Lodge  night ;  nor  shall  a  ballot  be  taken  on  it  until 
the  next  monthly  night  after  its  reception. 

Sec  3. — In  all  ballotings  for  candidates,  a  single  negative 
vote  shall  be  deemed  exclusive. 

As  a  mistake  in  balloting  might,  however,  exclude  a  wor- 
thy candidate,  a  second  ballot  shall  be  immediately  taken 
that  such  unintentional  error  may  be  corrected ;  but  more 
than  two  ballotings  shall  not  be  allowed  in  any  case. 

Sec  4. — When  a  candidate  is  unanimously  approved,  he 


BY-LAWS   OF 


may  be  initiated  on  any  evening  at  the  discretion  of  the 
Lodge,  but  should  he  be  deemed  unworthy  of  admission,  his 
deposit  shall  be  returned  by  the  brother  who  handed  it,  with 
delicacy  and  politeness,  nor  shall  the  person  so  applying  be 
considered  eligible  for  initiation  in  this  Lodge  within  twelve 
months  after  such  rejection,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
Secretary  immediately  to  inform  the  Lodges  under  the  juris- 
diction of  the  G.  L.  of  iT.  C.  of  such  rejection. 

After  an  approbatory  ballot,  should  a  candidate  neglect 
for  the  space  of  three  months  to  apply  for  initiation,  unless 
prevented  by  absence  or  indisposition,  he  shall  forfeit  his 
deposit  to  the  Charity  Fund  of  the  Lodge,  and  be  considered 
in  all  respects  as  though  he  had  never  petitioned. 

Sec.  5. — No  candidate  shall  be  initiated,  passed  or  raised 
on  the  evening  he  is  balloted  for,  except  in  cases  of  emer- 
gency, and  then  only  by  the  unanimous  consent  of  the  Lodge. 

Sec.  6. — Not  more  than  three  shall  be.  initiated,  passed  or 
raised  on  the  same  evening,  unless  the  applicants  are  com- 
pelled immediately  to  leave  the  State. 

Sec.  7. — Every  candidate  before  or  at  the  time  of  his  initia- 
tion, passing  or  raising,  shall  pay  to  the  Secretary  the  sum 
of  Five  Dollars  for  each  degree,  and  this  provision  shall  in 
no  wise  be  evaded  by  any  brother's  becoming  responsible 
for  the  same. 

Sec.  8. — Any  Mason  wishing  to  become  a  member  of  this 
Lodge  shall  make  known  his  desire  in  writing,  through  a 
member. 

Before  he  can  be  ballotted  for  he  must  deposit  with  the 
Master  a  certificate  from  the  Lodge  to  which  he  formerly  be- 
longed and  give  other  satisfactory  evidence  of  his  being  a 
regular  ancient  Mason.  On  admission  he  shall  pay  the 
Lodge  fund  Two  Dollars,  subscribe  the  laws,  and  be  entitled 
to  all  the  privileges  of  a  member. 

Sec  9. — Should  a  candidate  proposed  for  initiation  or  a  bro- 
ther applying  for  membership,  be  at  any  time  rejected,  no 
member  or  visiting  brother  shall,  directly  or  indirectly,  dis- 
close to  the  applicant,  or  to  any  other  person,  the  individual  or 


individuals  by  whom  he  was  opposed,  or  divulge  any  part  of 
the  conversation  which  may  have  taken  place  on  the  subject, 
under  the  penalty,  if  a  member,  of  suspension  for  six  months, 
and  if  a  visitor,  of  an  entire  exclusion  from  association  with 
this  Lodge. 


ARTICLE  Y. 

OF   DISTRESSED   MASONS. 

Sec.  1. — All  applications  of  distressed  Masons  for  relief, 
shall  be  made  to  the  Lodge  through  a  member.  Any  fail- 
ure on  the  part  of  a  member  in  the  discharge  of  this  duty 
shall  be  deemed  an  offence  against  the  Society,  one  of  the. 
leading  objects  of  which  is  the  dispensation  of  relief  to  dis- 
tressed members  of  the  fraternity. 


AETICLE  YL 

Sec.  1. — £To  member  shall  be  allowed  to  vote  on  the  dis- 
posal of  any  property  or  funds  of  the  Lodge  until  he  shall 
have  paid  all  his  dues  to  the  quarter  then  current. 

Sec.  2. — And  if  on  any  occasion  of  balloting  a  member 
shall  intentionally  exhibit  his  vote  he  shall  pay  a  fine  of  two 
dollars. 

AETICLE  YIL 

OF   WITHDRAWALS   AND    CERTIFICATES. 

Sec  1. — No  member  shall  be  permitted  to  withdraw  from 
this  Lodge  until  he  produce  the  Secretary's  receipt  for  all 
dues,  and  it  fairly  appears  he  labors  under  no  Masonic  cen- 
sure. And  moreover,  after  having  so  withdrawn,  he  shall 
be  subject  in  every  respect  on  application  for  re-admittance 
to  the  regulations  regarding  Masons  made  in  other  Lodges, 
and  applying  to  be  admitted  members  of  this. 

Sec  2. — Any  member  of  the  Lodge  in  good  standing, 
being  about  to  travel,  shall  on  paying  to  the  Secretary  the 
sum  of  Two  Dollars,  be  entitled  to  a  certificate  with  the 
seal  of  the  Lodge  affixed,  which  he  shall  not  be  compelled 
to  deliver  up,  except  in  case  of  his  suspension  or  expulsion. 


BY-LAWS   OF 


ARTICLE  YIIL 

DUES. 

Sec.  1. — Every  member  shall  pay  into  the  Lodge  fund  on 
each  quarterly  night,  the  sum  of  One  Dollar,  together  with 
all  dues  incurred  during  the  preceding  quarter. 

AETICLE  IX. 

OF   VISITORS. 

Sec.  1. — A  visitor  shall  not  be  allowed  to  speak  on  any 
question  before  the  Lodge,  unless  permission  be  granted  by 
the  Master ;  nor  shall  he  in  any  case  be  allowed  to  vote. 

Sec.  2.— Should  a  visitor  behave  in  an  unbecoming  man- 
ner while  in  the  Lodge,  he  shall  for  the  first  offence  be  pub- 
licly admonished  by  the  Master,  and  for  the  second  be 
required  to  withdraw  ;  and  shall  not  be  again  admitted, 
except  upon  due  submission  and  the  unanimous  consent  of 
the  members  present. 

Sec  3. — Masons  not  members  of  this  Lodge  may  be  per- 
mitted to  visit  at  the  discretion  of  the  Lodge. 

ARTICLE  X. 

OF  CENSURES,  SUSPENSIONS  AND  EXPULSIONS. 

Sec.  1. — Whenever  a  member  is  expelled  from  the  Fra- 
ternity, the  Secretary  shall  make  known  the  expulsion  to  the 
Grand  Lodge,  that  our  sister  Lodges  may  be  apprised  of  his 
unworthiness. 

Sec  2. — The  Lodge  shall,  at  the  time  of  the  election  of 
officers,  appoint  a  committee  of  reference,  to  consist  of  at 
least  three  judicious  persons,  who  shall  patiently  and  impar- 
tially consider  and  pass  upon  all  such  matters  of  controver- 
sy or  dispute,  unfortunately  arising  at  any  time  among  the 
brothers,  as  may  be  submitted  for  their  decision.  Should 
either  party  be  dissatisfied  with  the  judgment,  an  appeal  may 
be  made  to  the  Lodge. 

Sec  3. — Accusations  against  masons,  within  tjie  jurisdic- 
tion of  this  Lodge,  must  be  made  in  writing  over  the  signa- 
ture of  a  Master  Mason,  and  handed  to  the  Secretary  to 


9 

be  read  in  open  Lodge,  and  spread  upon  the  minutes,  after 
which  the  accused  shall  be  served  with  an  attested  copy 
of  the  charges  and  specifications,  together  with  a  notice 
through  the  Post  Office  or  otherwise,  at  least  ten  days  before 
the  day  of  trial,  to  appear  and  answer,  and  should  his  place 
of  residence  be  at  a  distance,  or  he  require  more  time  to 
prepare  for  defence,  a  reasonable  time  may  be  allowed.  If 
the  residence  of  the  accused  be  unknown,  or  he  fails  to  ap- 
pear, or  to  show  satisfactory  cause  for  delay  of  proceedings, 
then  and  in  that  case  the  Lodge  may  proceed  to  examine 
the  charges  ex-parte. 

Sec.  4. — The  examination  of  the  charges  shall  be  had  in  a 
Master  Mason's  Lodge,  especially  notified  and  convened  for 
that  purpose,  at  which  no  visitors  shall  be  admitted,  except 
as  counsel  or  witnesses,  and  the  Lodge  must  be  called  off 
during  the  necessary  presence  of  such  persons,  if  they  be 
not  Master  Masons. 

Sec  5.-— The  accused  may  select  his  own  counsel,  and  the 
witnesses  shall  testify  on  their  honor.  Hearsay  evidence  must, 
be  excluded.  If  testimony  be  taken  out  of  the  Lodge,  the  ac- 
cused, if  he  answer  or  appear,  shall  be  duly  notified  of  the 
time  and  place  where  such  evidence  will  be  taken,  that  he 
may  have  an  opportunity  of  being  present. 

Sec.  6. — Eo  irrelevant  questions  or  testimony  shall  be 
allowed  in  the  examination  of  witnesses.  The  Master  may 
conduct  the  examination  on  behalf  of  the  Lodge,  or  it  may 
appoint  a  committee  for  that  purpose,  and  the  questions  to^ 
as  well  -as  the  answers  by  the  witnesses,  must  be  carefully 
noted  down,  read,  and  if  necessary,  amended  in  their  pres- 
ence, and  then  spread  upon  the  minutes. 

Sec.  7. — When  the  examination  is  closed,  the  accused  shall 
then  be  heard  in  defence,  either  in  person  or  through  his 
counselj  after  which  all  who  are  not  members  of  the  Lodge 
shall  re  ire,  and  if  during  the  examination  it  shall  have  been 
called  off,  the  Lodge  must  then  be  called  on. 

Sec  8.— The  question,  guilty  or  not  guilty,  shall  be  put  to 
the  Lodge,  upon  each  separate  specification,  wdiich  a  majori- 


10  BY-LAWS    OF 


ty  of  the  members  present  shall  determine  by  ballot,  and- if 
the  accused  be  found  guilty  of  any  one  or  more  of  the  charges 
or  specifications,  then  the  penalty  shall  be  determined  in 
like  manner,  taking  the  question  upon  the  highest  penalty, 
(expulsion)  first,  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of  the  members  present 
being  necessary  to  expel  or  suspend.  The  particular  charges 
or  specifications  upon  which  the  accused  shall  be  found  guil- 
ty, together  with  the  sentence  determined  upon,  must  be 
spread  upon  the  minutes. 

Sec.  9. — A  brother  feeling  himself  aggrieved  by  the  decis- 
ion of  the  Lodge,  shall  have  the  right  of  an  appeal 
to  the  Grand  Lodge,  he  having  given  due  and  timely  notice 
to  the  Lodge  of  his  intention  so  to  appeal  from  its  de- 
cision, and  the  Secretary  of  the  Lodge,  if  required,  shall 
furnish  him  with  a  copy  of  all  the  proceedings  touching  his 
case. 

When  the  Lodge  shall  expel  or  suspend  a  brother,  all 
the  proceedings,  embracing  the  charges,  specifications,  evi- 
dence on  both  sides,  verdict  upon  each  charge  or  specifi- 
cation, and  the  sentence,  shall  be  sent  up,  under  the  seal  of 
the  Lodge,  and  attested  by  the  Secretary,  at  the  ensuing 
meeting  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  for  examination. 


AETICLE  XL 

Seg.  1. — ~No  business  can  be  transacted  at  an  extra,  meet- 
ting  other  than  that  for  which  it  was  called,  nor  can  such 
meeting  receive  petitions,  ballot,  or  engage  in  any  other 
business  affecting  the  general  interest  of  the  craft.  The 
presence  of  Grand  officers  warrant  exceptions. 


AETICLE  XII. 
Sec.  1. — All  former  laws  for  the  regulation  of  this  Lodge 
are  hereby  repealed,  nor  shall  any  alteration  take  place  in 
these,  but  in  the  following  manner,  viz :  A  proposition  shall 
be  made  on  a  stated  Lodge  night,  and  on  the  next  succeeding 
Lodge  night,  it  shall  be  taken  into  consideration  and  acted 
on  :  provided  the  Secretary  has  given  general  notice  of  the 


11 


business  of  the  Lodge.  Of  the  members  present  entitled  to 
vote,- two-thirds  must  concur  before  the  proposed  alteration 
can  be  made. 


PRIVATE  RULES  AND  LAWS. 

Sec.  1. — Every  member  when  he  speaks  in  the  Lodge,  shall 
address  the  Master  standing  ;  nor  shall  he  be  interrupted 
unless  deviating  from  the  subject,  when  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  Master,  to  call  him  to  order.  After  he  has  been  set 
right,  he  may  again  proceed  ;  but  no  member  shall  speak 
more  than  twice  on  the  same  subject,  unless  he  obtain  per- 
mission from  the  Master,  or  to  explain  himself. 

Sec  2. — When  two  members  rise  to  speak,  the  master 
shall  declare  who  has  the  priority,  and  the  other  shall  take 
his  seat  until  the  member  entitled  to  the  floor,  has  delivered 
his  sentiments. 

Sec  3.-^Any  member  who  shall  move  about  from  place  to 
place,  unless  in  the  execution  of  his  office,  go  out  without 
leave  of  the  Master,  speak  profanely  or  treat  any  officer  or 
member  with  rudeness,  shall  pay  a  fine  of  Two  Dollars  for 
the  first  offence,  and  for  the  second,  be  censured  from  the 
Chair. 

Sec  4. — Every  member  shall  appear  in  the  Lodge  decent- 
ly clothed,  and  if  any  one  should  presume  to  enter  in  a  state 
of  intoxication,  he  shall  pay  to  the  Lodge  fund  Three  Dollars 
lor  the  first  offence,  and  be  admonished  from  the  chair.  For 
a  second  offence  of  the  same  kind,  he  shall  suffer  three 
months  suspension  from  the  Lodge. 

Sec  5. — Should  any  member  so  far  forget  the  dignity  of 
his  character  as  to  behave  riotously,  abuse,  quarrel,  or  pro- 
mote quarrels  among  his  brethren  after  the  Lodge  is  closed, 
he  shall  for  the  first  offence  pay  to  the  Lodge  fund  Five  Dol- 
lars, and  fie  '  a  second  be  subject  to  censure,  suspension  or  ex- 
pulsion, as  the  Lodge  may  determine. 


12  BY-LAWS   OF   ST.   JOHN^   LODGE. 

Sec.  6 — These  laws  shall  be  written  in  a  book,  subjoined 
to  the  general  laws,  and  each  member  shall  subscribe  them, 
and  afterwards  be  bound  by  them  so  long  as  they  continue 
in  force. 

Sec  7. — Every  member  shall  be  furnished  witli  a  printed 
copy  of  these  By-Laws,  on  his  joining  the  Lodge,  and  they 
shall  be  read  to,  or  permitted  to  be  read  by  each  candidate 
before  his  initiation,  that  he  may  be  enabled  to  form  a  prop- 
er estimate  of  the  code  by  which  he  shall  be  governed  after 
his  admission  as  a  Mason. 


